I’m Josh Thomas, I’m 31 years old, and I’m a truck driver for OlD Dominion Freight Lines and I have 2 kids, Dylan and Camdyn. To start off, since I was a kid I’ve been fortunate enough to grow up on a small farm and have always enjoyed hunting. It wasn’t until I stopped racing motocross that I turned my attention to hunting whitetail again, but being a little older I really wanted to take it more serious because I enjoyed it so much.
I really get a thrill out of passing younger bucks by to hopefully see what they turn into the following year. That’s if they make it. To me, it’s like waking up Christmas morning. I truly enjoy just being in the woods and getting away from all the crazy and watching and learning these unique animals. On Nov. 11, I finally got the chance of a lifetime.
To start off, after all the preparations getting ready for the season like most of us do, I started putting out cameras. The closer it was getting to rut the more different bucks were popping up. But with that being said I wasn’t getting any that I felt I’d want to harvest myself. So my daughter and I had been practicing a lot with a crossbow. And I wanted to put all my focus on helping her get her first buck!
I would check my cameras often just so I’m not in the spots much, but when I did, I came to find out that I had 2 of my cameras stolen. So I said heck with it I’m going old school and not even going to put out anymore for the rest of the season. I told my work I’d like to take some vacation days throughout this week. On the days I didn’t have my daughter I was sitting all day, seeing nothing but spikes and 6- and 8-points.
I was really trying to figure out where on the property would be the best opportunity for my daughter to get her best buck. On Wednesday, Nov. 11, I had been sitting for a while and a storm was moving in. I knew I’d be able to get a good idea what’s around.
First. I had two small button bucks walk in, then a 6-point, then a spike, then a small 8 point. All bucks just hanging around — not one single doe. I was so amped to be seeing so much hope for bucks in the near future. As I watched them the 6- and 8-point started sparing. I could faintly hear their horns hit maybe four or five times.
About a minute later I heard what sounded like something jumping the fence. I couldn’t see because of a lot of holly bushes and brush that’s there. Meanwhile I’m literally not prepared for anything to happen because I’ve been watching what feels like National Geographic for the past hour or so. What happened next is something I’ll never forget.
As I was keeping my eyes on the holly bush, the wildest buck of my life came into view and it looked like in my mind how a moose would look. It was like nothing I’d ever seen, especially around here. He was heading straight for the two small ones sparing. I then made a fast decision and dropped him with my muzzleloader.
After some time went by, I got down and started looking around where I shot. I couldn’t see him and I didn’t see blood. He was about 10 years from a steep creek bank. I walked to the edge and I could only see a white tail and one half of the rack. The rest was completely under water.
I jumped down in there and when I grabbed and lifted I thought to myself I just killed the coolest buck of maybe my entire life!! He has 19 scoreable points, and would’ve been 20, but one of his what I’d call G2s was broke off. I’m still in shock over this guy I call “moose!”
I’m very blessed and fortunate to have this opportunity and just really happy that it’s something I love so much! We all work hard at this hobby or passion, whatever you’d like to call it. And man, seeing all these other guys and girls big buck picks from N.C. is amazing. It shows that people are actually letting a lot more mature nowadays, and in the long run, we will all have a chance at a buck of a lifetime.
Hope you enjoyed the short story, with the no-history buck I call “moose.” Now, my daughters turn!!!😁
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